Himara - Operation Healing029 July 1944

I visited Himara and stayed there 2 days. I had the map of the raid from Kew National Archives and although it is now quite heavily built up as a coastal resort the topography doesn't change and it was relatively easy to pinpoint the landing beach head and the objectives. Driving to the villa I stayed at in Himara for 2 days was tricky and hairy enough but walking was even harder. Extremely steep and very, very hot. It was a mistake in the raid to use the wirelesses with antennas as they would not penetrate the tightly grouped olive trees. The actual raid is NOT really remembered in Himara and information is almost non-existent. I firmly believe this is because under Hoxha 1944-1985 the country was an isolated communist block similar to North Korea and East Germany at the time. Over 5,000 people were executed as political enemies of the state and many thousands imprisoned. They were fed propaganda which didn't include Allied involvement. Basically 2 generations missed out on this bit of history. I didn't hear any English being used and most Albanians only know a few words. Those in the tourist industry and youngsters speak it better but know nothing and/or come from different parts of Albania.
My respect for those involved has soared. The terrain was as big an enemy as the Germans. A double whammy. I also spent 2 days in Tirana and visited the War Graves cemetery there. No commandos but 5 dead from the Highland Light Infantry and another from the the Royal Norfolk.
My father was walking wounded from 2 Commando.

Hi Ron,

With due respect, I must draw your attention to the Album, Tirana Park Memorial Cemetery, in the Gallery on this website. There are 48 Casualties remembered there including six from No.2 Commando and seven from 40 RM Commando.

https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+War+Graves+Memorials+and+Plaques/graves/War+Graves+Albania/tirana+park/

Nick

Hi Ron

The 2 Special Service Brigade casualties buried at Tirana are listed here. They are from Operation Healing 11 and Operation Mercerised. https://www.commandoveterans.org/Tirana-Park-Cemetery

The Fallen specifically from Healing 11 are also named at the foot of the page here: https://www.commandoveterans.org/OperationHealing2Commando

I note you say your father was walking wounded. Do we have details ? If not let me know his full name and other details.

[i]Pete[/]

Hi Pete - I meant no disrespect and the other graves are of course important but there are so many that I have concentrated on this specific raid and those involved. I'm not a professional researcher and the task is enormous unless you specialise. Even the family are not sure whether it was shrapnel or a bullet wound - it went through his mouth, knocked out a row of back teeth and exited through his neck. My suspicion is it was from a hand grenade as it got very close quarters at times and they'd bounce of the rocks and buildings. My father was Roy John James Ruston and he joined up from 5/11/1942 - 15/08/1946 Service No. 14318535
The HLI don't seem to have a record of the raid and these brave young men should be remembered also. In the records they supported "B" section and fought with bayonets on retreating Germans.
My father was first in Royal Engineers as a driver after 55PTW (whatever that is?) and wounded 29/7/1944 (BC)
He fought mainly in Italy and was also posted briefly to Palestine with 3rd Airborne after WW2. I appreciate any help as the military records are hard to read. Albania was out of bounds for most of the second half of the last century and of course history was rewritten by Enver Hoxha. Even now few British are venturing there. In 17 days it is the 80th Anniversary of the raid and will not be celebrated in Himare.

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/82584/

If you look at 1.48-1.50 the landing beach was the other side of the opposite headland. The map at Kew was accurate and obviously topography is unchanged. The terrain looks pretty but is formidable.

Ron,

RonSG wrote:
My father was first in Royal Engineers as a driver after 55PTW (whatever that is?) and wounded 29/7/1944 (BC)

PTW = Primary Training Wing. I'm not sure where No.55 PTW was located as I've not come across No.55 before...
Nick